HARK, THE HERALD ANGELS SING
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’ angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Gracious God, hallowed be Thy Name, let Thy kingdom come and Thy will be done on earth. We are grateful for the priceless gift You graciously bestowed on us, thank You and thank You again, Lord. Thank You for the Joy, Peace and Righteousness that accompanies Him. Faithful are You Lord, greatly to be praise Father we adore, we worship You, we glorify Your Name for Your undying love on us.
Beloved, once again Merry Christmas, hope you had a good time both in God’s presence and family and friends? Thanks be to God Who made us part a family, praise be to Him Alone.
Many of us are still in the Christmas mood, is so wonderful to be joyous especially when occasion calls for it but it is important that we don’t miss the whole essence of the Season – “the birth of Jesus Christ – Immanuel- the Saviour of the World.”
Gradually, the year 2015 will be off the scene before the end of this week and we are eagerly looking forward to year 2016 as it will herald on stage by all and sundry as the clock tick to it with a loud “shout” that represent different things to different people.
However, today’s topic is calling us to account for the various gifts and talents God deposited in our individual lives, how well have we use it? To many, this year is gone but I want you to know that a lots of “good” will still happen to many before the year rolls away. We are still expecting many unborn babies, celebration of marriages, arrival of new cars, unveiling of new houses, deliverance, restorations, healings, new jobs, and chief of all “Salvation” just name it will still happen before the year rolls away.
I come to announce to you, to still hold on to God as we march on to the end of the year. Do not overlook small things that comes your way this time, it might be a led to your long awaited breakthroughs. Be sensitive to the move of the Spirit of God (I just received a Word as I was writing this message that is settling my case and is taking me to my next level).
In God’s activities is your turn-around; in His activities is your breakthrough, therefore despises not the small things around you or that which your hand findeth to do even a Word as in my case. So watch out and do not despised anything no matter how small you think it is:
For who scorns the day of small things?—Zechariah 4:10a
The world loves the spectacular. God has proven that He is certainly capable of the extraordinary, but He often chooses to work through the ordinary and seemingly insignificant. In this way He demonstrates His love and His power.
Throughout history, God’s answer to a critical time was to send a baby. Isaac, Moses, Samuel, John the Baptist, and Jesus were all born as answers to a time of need. When God delivered the Israelites from the Midianites’ oppression, He intentionally used an army of merely three hundred men to defeat a vastly larger army. He had more soldiers available, but He preferred to demonstrate His power in the way He accomplished His purposes.
When Jesus selected His first disciples He could have enlisted a multitude to follow Him, but He chose twelve. It was not the number of disciples but the quality of their walk with Him that would determine how they affected their world. When Jesus fed a multitude, five loaves of bread and two fish from a boy’s lunch were sufficient in the hands of the Lord.
Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a mustard seed (Matt. 13:31–32). The mustard seed was the smallest seed known to the Jews, yet it grew into an enormous tree. He also likened God’s kingdom to leaven that is hardly noticeable but raises the entire batch of dough (Matt. 13:33). When children came to Jesus, His disciples assumed they were an annoyance and chased them away (Matt. 19:13–15). But Jesus said that in order to enter His kingdom, people must approach God as a child.
Christians often accept the adage “the bigger the better.” We measure success by the number of people involved in our ministry. We seek spectacular displays of God’s power. We must learn to view success as God does. God is interested in the heart; He is pleased with obedience.
As we said earlier, that Christ came into the world/ heart with Joy, Peace and Righteousness. In the righteousness of Christ is Salvation of mankind. The reason for the Season is draw man back to God. To restore man to his original position from creation. Christ came to preach deliverance to the captives. Come along with me as we read more:
“To preach deliverance to the captives.” Luke 4:18
None but Jesus can give deliverance to captives. Real liberty cometh from Him only. It is a liberty righteously bestowed; for the Son, who is Heir of all things, has a right to make men free. The saints honour the justice of God, which now secures their salvation. It is a liberty which has been dearly purchased.
Christ speaks it by His power, but He bought it by His blood. He makes thee free, but it is by His own bonds. Thou goest clear, because He bare thy burden for thee: thou art set at liberty, because He has suffered in thy stead. But, though dearly purchased, He freely gives it.
Jesus asks nothing of us as a preparation for this liberty. He finds us sitting in sackcloth and ashes, and bids us put on the beautiful array of freedom; He saves us just as we are, and all without our help or merit. When Jesus sets free, the liberty is perpetually entailed; no chains can bind again. Let the Master say to me, “Captive, I have delivered thee,” and it is done for ever.
Satan may plot to enslave us, but if the Lord be on our side, whom shall we fear? The world, with its temptations, may seek to ensnare us, but mightier is He who is for us than all they who be against us. The machinations of our own deceitful hearts may harass and annoy us, but He who hath begun the good work in us will carry it on and perfect it to the end.
The foes of God and the enemies of man may gather their hosts together, and come with concentrated fury against us, but if God acquitteth, who is he that condemneth? Not more free is the eagle which mounts to his rocky eyrie, and afterwards outsoars the clouds, than the soul which Christ hath delivered (Isa 44:22).
If we are no more under the law, but free from its curse, let our liberty be practically exhibited in our serving God with gratitude and delight. “I am Thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: Thou hast loosed my bonds.” “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?”
Beloved, more discoveries on “the Reason for the Season.” When God sets you free, who can condemn you or hold you captive? Now that Christ had set you free, is not for you to continue in a loose or careless living but rather its a call for service unto Him.
If you are yet to discover your ministry or you are yet to belong to any service group in your local assemble/church. This is the time to ask God “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” Once you receive it, be patient enough to find out how He wants you go about it. We need to bring others to the kingdom as we were brought by others.
If you don’t know where to start, start among your brethren (Lk 16:27-28). Make sure that none of them go the way of the perverse. And God will take you from there to many nations (Ps 2:8).
Glory be to Jesus. Don’t forget, do not despise the small things God is leading you to do at this time. Always remember, that He died that you may live. In that Spirit of joy and love of the yuletide, let us continue with our carol:
Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of the virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’ incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings,
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
May the blessedness of this season remain with you now and always in Jesus Name. Amen!
Remain blessed in the Lord.
